Record field turns out for Brewer High Turkey Trot 3-miler

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Runners take off at the start of the 31st annual Turkey Trot in Brewer on Sunday afternoon. The 3-mile race presented by the Sophomore class of Brewer High School was the largest turnout so far with 781 runners participating.

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Nick Wheeler of Bangor was the overall winner of the 31st annual Turkey Trot in Brewer on Sunday. His time of 14:48 also set a new course record. This year's 3-mile race along Dirigo Drive presented by the Sophomore class of Brewer High School was the largest turnout so far with 781 runners participating.

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Kristine Guaraldo of Brewer was the first woman to finish the 31st annual Turkey Trot on Sunday with a time of 18:54 on Nov. 18, 2012.

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Linda Coan O'Kresik | BDN | BDN

Mason Duplissie, 16, sports a turkey hat while watching his sister, Aubrey, 13, compete in the kids 1- mile Turkey Trot Sunday afternoon. Aubrey won for the girls with a time of 6:19 and Mason celebrated his 16th birthday at the race. This year's 3-mile race presented by the sophomore class of Brewer High School was the largest turnout so far with 781 runners participating.

BREWER, Maine — Records were obliterated left and right under bright blue skies at the 31st annual Brewer High School Turkey Trot 3-mile road race on Sunday.

The race attracted 781 runners between the main event and the 1-mile run for kids, and on a picture-perfect day for a pre-Thanksgiving jaunt, Nicholas Wheeler turned the race into a cakewalk.

The 26-year-old was never seriously threatened, blasting the out-and-back Dirigo Drive course in 14 minutes, 48 seconds, 17 seconds, short of the 14:31 standard Riley Masters established here in 2009.

Jaron Jones finished nearly two minutes back in 16:16, edging out three other runners in a close battle for second place.

Rounding out the top five were Matt Homich in 16:24, Eric Mauricette in 16:27 and Perry LeBreton in 16:28.

Brewer High School graduate Kristine Guaraldo, 36, wrapped up her Sub 5 points series championship by claiming the women’s division in 18:54.

Guaraldo was never challenged either, as second-place finisher Abby Iselborn, a former Catherine McAuley High School running standout, completed the race in 19:27.

Elizabeth Labun was third among female runners in 19:28, followed by Hampden Academy senior Kylee Parker in 19:30 and Sarah Mulcahy in 19:57.

The main event attracted 519 runners and walkers while 262 kids participated in the 1-mile fun run.

Wheeler, who ran collegiately at the University of Southern Maine, bolted out to the lead from the gun and turned the race into a battle against the clock on a picture-perfect day where the sun-splashed course stayed wind free.